Thrifting, Junking, Repurposing, DIY, Crafting, Handmade, Vintage Collectibles

Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Thrifting, Junking, Repurposing, DIY, Crafting, Handmade, Restyle, and vintage collectibles too!  What can I say, I love dabbling with a lot of things! 

Hello! Hello! Hello! to all visiting. It's been a very long time, and I deeply apologize for that too. The holidays, getting in truck with husband, visiting son on base, bringing his dog home with us for a while...he's like having another child in the home, having an early christmas with our son, and having a late christmas with our daughter. Then, while school was out for the christmas holiday our grand daughter stayed with me for a week. New Years eve was spent with daughter, and her family being here. Also, we had our son on facetime so that he brought in the new year with all of us, and not by himself. Excuses, but they were some precious times that don't want to be missed either. 

So, here we are into the new year 2019. Also, the first month of the new year is done as well. Time has gotten by me unfortunately. Things were different this year during holidays because my husband couldn't be home to share it with us. First time in quite a few years we had this happen. So, I did the tree myself, decorations outside and inside myself, gift wrapping, cooking christmas dinner myself, etc etc. Then, of course I had the fun of taking it all down myself too. Really wasn't that bad. Only issue is the new tree we got this year. 7 1/2 foot tall, and I'm about 5'4". So, that was a chore itself. Love the tree, it looked great, but taking it down....I can't find containers big enough to store the tree as it is. I got one more idea to store it, and hopefully I get that done this week. Next time hubby is home he can then put it away for storage till the next time. 

I'm not one to really set too many goals for the new year. It's easier for me to work on the smaller things, and add as I go along. My biggest goal is to just work on the house as we are able to, and get it more to a point that it is our home. Baby steps, but it will come along. Just another reason I am anxious for spring because that is when all things will be new, fresh air, windows open, things growing, and so on. 

I need to get my craft room into a more organized order for use. That includes going through things that have been stored here, downsize if I need to,etc. I'm anxious for this too. I have been thrifting a little bit here, and there. Getting things in order to start working on. Different glass pieces waiting to be worked with, some need to be washed yet, and then collecting a few extras along the way to use with things I want to make. 

I am anxious for this year to truly get back into the groove of making things, and getting back online selling again too. My dearest friend just lives a couple hours from me, and we converse about things we want to do, set some goals, and try to coax each other to help out in the motivation department too. She is in the process of getting her craft room ready, and organized too. Hopefully in the spring we have made some plans to do some thrifting, and junking. Also, to dig into some things for crafty pieces too. She has a few stores she wants to introduce me to, and I am anxious for it too. That is one good thing about this move that we made. I have a few more areas for shopping, and searching for treasures. Also, a new area where I can spend more time with me, and not chasing around for everyone else. More Me time is something we all need. 

LOL! Well, now that I have bored y'all with my thoughts, and ideas I shall stop here for now. Hope it didn't scare y'all away, and you come back to visit to keep tabs on things being done. Right now I am thinking, and planning maybe a Christmas in July. I'll keep you updated as things go along for me. Along with that I think I might start working on things for some of the holidays along the year too. I have some ideas, making notes, making lists for supplies needed, watching videos to help me a little bit, and I am truly excited for this! I only hope I can do what I am planning, but have fun with it too. 

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and I hope to see y'all again soon! Stop by now, and then to check in on what is happening, chat with me, etc. Enjoy the company as I venture along with things. Take care till the next time everyone!

Thrifting Junking Searching Preparing For Resale

Thrifting Junking Searching and Preparing For Resale. Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Gonna cover something simple today. I hope it will be helpful, and will give you a little something to think about as well. 

We spend time with thrifting, junking, estate sales, second hand stores, garage sales, and actually anywhere that we can think of to find the next treasure for our homes, or our stores. When we do these special treasure hunts we take pride in the search, have fun with it, and are always anxious to get back home with all the goodies we have found for the day too. So, once we get them home what is is that we all do with these new finds? All of us have our own way of doing things that we have found to work for us. The biggest decision is do we keep it, or do we sell it? 

Once I get all of the treasures home that I have found for the day I am no longer tired. I am excited to unwrap items, set them out to view closer, take inventory, make notes, and etc. I do the best I can to keep record of things that will help with decisions that should be made later about pieces too. For now I have a simple form I use that I will record the item found, price I paid for it, is it a resale as is or will I be repurposing altering it in some way. I like to make notes of any flaws that I see with the pieces as well. Then note the overall condition of the piece that I have found. 

Once I get this part done I might take a break...something to revive myself to continue doing a few more things with the treasures found. Once I have done all the notes, documenting of things, and what I feel is necessary to complete with all the items I then start preparing for cleaning of the items. Yes, everything that I find I will do some kind of a cleaning with it. Nothing harsh, but a gentle clean to better show the beauty of all the things I have found. Once I have done this I can see if maybe there are more visible flaws to note, and I can better decide if I will sell the piece as is, or if I will repurpose it in some way. The urge is always strong to want to keep things found, and I have to remind myself that I do not have the room to house these wonderful treasures for myself. I hopefully can make someone else happy with offering things that I have found, and that they may take pleasures with their finds too. 

After completing these few steps the research will generally be done with all the pieces you have found. Researching for the value of vintage collectibles, searching to see if others are selling the same items and making notes of their prices along with successes of sold pieces, you are learning a little more about the treasures found with all of your researches. Another assistance to consider with your searches is to use collectors books that better describe items, their age, their value with their conditions, and some of the history for it too. 

I know that doing these few steps I have shared with you does not seem like much of a procedure. Yes, it can be time consuming doing some of this. I enjoy doing this as I better learn and familiarize myself with the pieces. I feel I can better connect with them by viewing them in a different way from their purchase, and that I can better assist my customers as well too. 

Hope you found your visit to be helpful, maybe consider a few things not thought of before, and remember it's always good to hear suggestions from you visiting as well. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams! See you again soon. Toodles . . . 

Happy Thrifting, Junking, and Vintage Collecting Friday

Happy Thrifting, Junking, and Vintage Collecting Friday to all of you!! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, and may it be a creative one too. Have a wonderful Friday, and have a beautiful weekend everyone!!

See you all again on Monday. Toodle Ooohh . . . . . . 

Online Summertime Sales Slow to None

Online Summertime Sales Slow to None

For many who deal with sales online, or in the brick and mortar stores will sometimes notice sales being slower. Some have not had many sales to speak of. When this happens, many of us will question ourselves about what are we doing wrong, do I need to change something, is there more I could do, and etc.

In all reality sales during the summer generally do become slower for many. Depends on what you are selling, supply and demand, and you know. Consider that many people, and families during the summer spend time vacationing, traveling, spending more time with family and friends, and their focus is not with buying too much of anything. Sure, they will buy when they are traveling, visiting out of town, and vacationing for different little souveniers. The majority of their time is not spending all their time online buying, but maybe emailing, researching with travel plans, some take the summer to prepare for winter months themselves with their diy projects, their online inventory, and things like that.   

Selling has usually been slow for me during the summer time which I have adjusted to. I have adapted with the sales being very slow, or if any at all. I like to try to take the opportunity to work more with my blogs, spend some time with my website, reorganizing things, do a little research about some diy projects, and hoping to take the time to repurpose pieces too. I also have been noting some of my inventory, reviewing past sales of what has or has not sold for me, and try to prepare a little bit for the next year or seasonal changes.  

Like many others I also like to take some time to go thrifting, yard saling, junking, visit some estate sales, maybe attend a few auctions, and enjoy the wonderful weather! It has been a different summer this year with the late start of it, but enjoying what I am able to now.  

So, if you are getting the summer time blues with your online sales or storefront sales, are concerned about slow sales, or no sales, don't be too worried. Just remember that summer time is generally slower for many. Now.....the season will soon be changing from vacations completed, traveling becoming minimal, and with school soon starting again for the little ones, those in middle schools, high schools, and college too. Once the season changes, and people are back home more they will be spending more time with their computers, and doing some of their favorite online shopping again.  

Hang in there everyone, things will soon get better!:) Thanks for sharing time with LilacsNDreams. See you all again soon!

Getting Ready For a New Season Change With Junkin

Getting Ready For a New Season Change With Junkin!

As I woke this morning the sun was bright and felt much warmer, clear blue skies, light wind, roads had more traffic, snow is almost gone, and it is actually getting a little warmer out each day now. Old Man Winter was attempting to hang onto the reins, and make the winter season longer for us. Thank Goodness it is not working, and things are changing into spring. 

Along with this seasonal change comes a new season of junkin too! I know some areas have already started. Down south they are fortunate to have been having some fun with some special finds, going out hunting, etc. I envy them, and am getting antsy myself with wanting to do this too. I know some areas around us have also been doing some things, and are getting started with the season changes too. 

I cannot wait to get out and about, and to find some deals. Past couple of years I slowed down with shopping at thrift stores, yard sales, good wills, junking, and etc. I wanted to use what I had at home for inventory, organize things better, and to lower my inventory as well. It is not all gone, but it has gotten much better for me to be anxious to get out there, and go digging again! Vintage collectibles, look for items to repurpose, items to upcycle with, and find some lovelies to reuse too.

I have decided that this year I would like to make a list of things I would like to look for, and find. Other years I always get sidetracked at sales, and I always come home with a load of things I shouldn't be buying, or didn't really need. You know that feeling too, right? At least with a list I would have more of a goal of what I want, need, and it definitely gives me some ideas of what to stick more of with too. So, what's on your list for this year?

Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams everyone! Glad to have you, and hope to see you again soon. See ya!

Thrifting Junking Repurposing Homemade Creating Weekend

Thrifting Junking Repurposing Homemade Creating Weekend

Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone! Wow! It is Friday, and it feels good to be here too. You have any big plans for the weekend? Nothing big here. Birthday celebrations with sister, and hopefully time to sleep, sleep, and even a little bit more sleep with the hectic schedules that have been here the past 2 weeks. 

Oh, yeah, I was kind of hoping to get some more pieces put together, and get more new things listed in the shops too. Can't jump ahead too far as my plans don't always work out. Day by day:)

Whatever your plans are for the weekend enjoy them, and have fun! WooHoo! It's Friday, and weekend here we come. Thanks for dropping by everyone to visit with LilacsNDreams, and see you again soon. Take care, and have a fabulous weekend with all you plan. Get in a little bit of shopping with Thrifting, and Junking if you can too. Till the next time. . . . 

Weekend is Here Finally, Hope You All Enjoy it

The Weekend is Here Finally, and I Hope You All Enjoy it!

It's the Weekend!! Hi everyone, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams today. Ok, I am not completely dressed like that as pictured, but I am sure lounging right now. To make a long story very short, yesterday was one heck of a day! Bank, unauthorized charges on account, and then to deal with the dealership after spending over an hour at the bank. At the dealership I requested a manager, someone in charge, and things went good there too. Just ALL took time. 

So, today for a while is lounging time. I hope all of you have had a wonderful week, and I wish a very good weekend upon you too. Sometimes we need a weekend where we do nothing, and just sit around. I hope some of you are able to do this, and enjoy it too.  Hey, if you get some thrifting in, little bit of junking, or some crafting done that is relaxation too!

Thanks for stopping by LilacsNDreams everyone. Enjoy your weekend, have fun, and be safe. Take care, and see you all again on Monday:)

Buying Searching Junking Preparing For Resale and Things

Buying Searching Junking and Preparing For Resale and Things too.


Good Day, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams. Wow! Wednesday, and where is the time going to? I know all of that thrift shopping, yard saling, junking, and searching of treasures and supplies, right? Make sure to have some fun too. 


I was curious, and having another thought about things. Don't laugh cuz I know ya'll do it too:)  Once we have done all of the searching, and hunting for items needed we take them home, and what do you do next with it all? I know that we all have different ways of doing things, different things that we do in preparation, and we all have opinions as to what we should do for our sales. The biggest decision of course that we are face is are we keeping it, or are we selling it?:)

I love shopping at Thrift Stores, Yard Sales, Flea Markets, do some junking, and . . . don't tell anyone . . . once in a while you just might see my feet hanging out from a dumpster too! Now, once I get all my refound treasures home I like to set them all out, and make notes to everything I got. You know the usual of things like where I bought it from, how much did I pay, the date I found it, and so on. Then comes the next step of cleaning, and closer inspection of everything. I always worry about damaging things, and so I gently wash them to the best of my abilities. Since I worry about possible damage of things I carefully do them one by one, and take my time with them all too. As I am doing this I am also inspecting pieces for any other damages that were there, and deciding if they are going to be resold as is, or if I shall reuse them with repurposing. After everything has dried I like to take the time to get the old notebook out, and spend some time researching some of the pieces too. The values of them, and what can be done with them from there. Not only am I using the internet, but sometimes books are used in reference of some pieces to get a better idea of value, selling prices, and what they should be offered at in today's market. 

This really doesn't seem like a whole lot of procedure in doing these few things, but it is time consuming. I enjoy doing it as I learn about the pieces, and can also connect with them by better viewing them in different ways from when they were purchased. 

You know if you have something to add with this, or maybe share with us here you are more than welcome to do so. I love hearing about different ways of things. There is no right, or wrong to things here. Just a great way to share, and to learn from everyone. So, hit that comment button, and do your thing!:)

Thanks for visiting, and sharing your time with LilacsNDreams! I enjoy it all. Come back, and visit again soon.